Internet cafes in Italy have been dragged into the front line of the war on terror, with new rules identifying customers.
Under anti-terrorism legislation passed in July, the cybercafes must now make copies of passport information for everyone who uses a computer, telephone or fax machine, the Christian Science Monitor reported.
"This new law creates a heavy atmosphere," said Maurizio Savoni, owner of an Internet cafe in Rome.
Savoni told the newspaper that business has dropped about 10 percent because customers resent the security measures. He had to get a business communications license and pay $1,600 for monitoring equipment.
The newspaper said that there appears to be widespread grumbling but little open opposition to the law. The government says that the new anti-terrorist measures helped in the arrest of Hussein Osman, suspected of being one of the planners of the London Transport terrorist attacks in July.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
